A Chilly decision for Jersey dolphins

The dolphins still swimming in the Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers are no big deal to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Not only does it refuse to rescue Flipper and friends, it won't let anyone else do the job either.

The agency has acknowledged that the pod -- originally 16 animals but now down to five -- might not survive, but says it's best to leave them alone unless they're in immediate distress.

Now, with the rivers threatening to ice over, the dolphins, air-breathing mammals, could drown.

Still NOAA is unmoved. Stuff happens, the agency seems to say.

Sen. Robert Menendez and Rep. Frank Pallone have demanded NOAA rescue the dolphins or let someone else do it. Seems a humane and reasonable suggestion since all NOAA has to do is get out of the way.

Only someone with a heart of stone -- and a head to match -- could fail to be moved by the plight of the dolphins. But alas, we're dealing here with federal bureaucrats.